The Cowboys beat division rival Philadelphia 38-21 to snap a two-game losing streak, and are now headed home to try for their first winning streak of the season. The trade deadline looms and the team is deciding whether they'll be buying again. The team struggled defensively against mostly Eagles backups, but their offense stepped up with their best rushing game of the season and timely touchdown passes in the red zone. Dallas fans might have different opinions on the Cowboys' biggest rivals, but their biggest nemesis would seem to be the Arizona Cardinals.
The team is 1-8 against the Cardinals in their last nine contests, including 0-4 at AT&T Stadium, with four of their last five losses by double digits. Dallas was usually the favorite and
considered the more talented team in most of those matchups, but Arizona has had their number. The Cowboys will need to answer some questions to finally get over the hump against a Cardinals team that upset the Los Angeles Rams two weeks ago.
Can Dallas continue to score touchdowns?
Dallas is seen as possibly the worst defense in the NFL, but when they match up with Arizona, it's the Cardinals who could be. They are last in scoring defense; the Cowboys are 23rd. Total yards allowed: Dallas is 29th compared to 24th for the Cardinals; EPA per play is an advantage for Arizona, 27th to 30th. They are tied at 20th in passing defense, and the Cowboys are the worst in the NFL in rushing defense.
The major difference is on the offensive side. Dallas is a top-five scoring unit and top-10 in total yards, while the Cardinals are 26th and 22nd, respectively. Both teams stink defensively and should move the ball on the other, but only one has played offense at a level to expose the other. Dallas ranks third in red-zone touchdown percentage, scoring at 74%, while Arizona ranks last at 43%.
Can Dallas continue their run game momentum?
Dallas hasn’t been a good rushing team, partly due to a lack of attempts and partly to poor execution when they do hand the ball off. Going into their Week 8 breakout game in Philadelphia, they were 31st at 76 yards per game and dead last in attempts. Things improved drastically after the 200-yard rushing performance against the Philadelphia Eagles. That moved them up to 25th in the NFL with 94 yards per game.
Cowboys opponents have made it a strategy to keep the ball away from Prescott and wear down the defense, and that’s why the run game is so important. The Cardinals are fourth in time of possession while the Cowboys are 29th. With Dallas’ red zone advantage, if they can control the time of possession and keep their defense off the field, it could be key to a Dallas victory.
Can Dallas change their mentality?
The Cowboys need a change in mentality. Confidence isn’t an issue, but they have moved into the cocky category and might not even realize its impact on their play. Prescott has mentioned losing to teams they "didn’t expect to lose to.” Under head coach Brian Schottenheimer, the team has an under-.500 record, and hasn't beaten an NFC team outside of their own division. They shouldn't have the mentality that they should beat anybody.
The Cardinals have been the beneficiary of that mentality for multiple seasons. When Lamb was asked about the Cowboys' struggles against Arizona, he said they were "always too relaxed," and then the Cardinals would “punch them in the mouth.” He went on to say they have to “treat them like they are Super Bowl contenders,” but the Cowboys aren’t that, so why do they play with that mentality? This thought process has to change. Stop talking about the greatest offense there is; become the team that's most prepared and plays harder than anybody else, and they'll win more games.
You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or on YouTube at Across the Cowboys podcast
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: 3 questions Cowboys must answer to beat the Cardinals in Week 8
